Sticking to Your Principles

This is the first full week of December and I am reminded that this is the time of year when people prepare to review their performance towards their goals. As I reflect on my own growth, I realize that the most important goal that I have ever set for myself is to be true to my principles at all cost.?The truth is, I have failed at accomplishing many of my own goals.?The one constant that keeps me motivated and inspired through it all, is my steadfast commitment to my principles - those “expressed” publicly and those “internalized.” I am keenly aware this this holds true for many of you as well.?Stick to your principles, even when it costs you!

Sticking to Your Principles Can Cost You!

During the past week, the college football world has seen one of the fastest rising college coaches come under fire, partially because many people believe that he did not remain steadfast to his “expressed” principles. The slew of criticism came primarily from those he promised in his interview for the head coaching job at Jackson State University (JSU), in Mississippi. Regardless of where you stand on this viral story, one point of agreement is that the coach did not stay true to what he promised, thereby reneging on his “expressed” principles. In the world of work, we sometimes sell our best selves and make promises about what we will and will not do in order to secure a desired position. The 2011 Class Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee Deion “Primetime” Saunders, aka Coach Prime is a good reminder for us to ask ourselves one question at critical junctures of our employment or careers. Am I doing what I said I was going to do during my interview for this position???The follow-up questions should be; Have I done it? Am I doing it? If not, what got in the way of me keeping this promise or remaining steadfast to my principles, “expressed” and “internalized?”

Often I am reminded that in personal and professional pursuits, people are not impervious to the lures and temptations of offers that range from financial benefits, hierarchical elevation, personal satisfaction, stronger public positions, and political promises.?Similarly, none of us are impervious to the critics who are not in the “arena*.” Coach Sanders vacated a position that pays him $300,000 annually for an offer to be paid $5,000,000.?Regardless of the money, his primary critics are concerned about his promise to build the football programs (starting with JSU) at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU’s) by taking them to the “promise land” of college football. It should be noted that he is not an anomaly.?Whenever you stick to your principles, you will inevitably risk being marginalized by the very people you once sat at the proverbial table.?At some point in our personal and professional pursuits, we have all made decisions that resulted in many of our relatives, friends, and frenemies (contemporary social vernacular loading) wondering about or judged us for.

?We have all made decisions and promises that we have broken. Regardless of the outcome, blame, or criticism received, we will likely still experience fulfillment in our pursuits. In this day and age, I believe that a private commitment to, and in some instances, a public expression of your principles regardless of the circumstance will inevitably result in a dichotomy. This dichotomy includes an elevation of your trajectory and personal satisfaction, as well as criticism and marginalization from many.

?While people have opinions, perspectives, and judgments about Coach Sanders’s decision, a radically empathetic position should inspire them to do the following three things:

1. ?Try to understand why the Coach may have made this decision.
2. Ask yourself what happened to Coach in his time at his current role or a previous role that inspired this decision.
3. Are his critics aware of his “internalized” principles??Based on his public sharing, they are apparently aware of his “expressed” principles.

Radical Empathy Quote:?“It is said that every person you meet is going through something very difficult. Be kind, be open, be willing to understand why they made the decision, even if you believe that they should have made a different one.”?

*Teddy Roosevelt’s speech reference??